Free Justice at Cardwell Ranch by B.J. Daniels Page B

ever spoke again.”
    “Could it have been over a girl?”
    Brittany laughed. “Isn’t it always?”
    “So who would that girl have been?”
    “If I had to guess, I’d say Tessa Ryerson. Shelby’s BFF.”
    Liza laughed. “Best friend forever? Is that still true?”
    Brittany nodded and crossed her fingers. “Shelby and Tessa, they’re like this and always have been. I was surprised when Jordan went out with Tessa since he never could stand Shelby.”
    * * *
    D ANA HAD DOZED OFF FOR A WHILE, she realized. She woke to find Hud lying on the bed next to her. Listening, she could hear the sound of their children’s voices coming from the kitchen along with that of her sister’s. She placed a hand on her stomach, felt her two babies and tried to relax. Nothing seemed to be amiss and yet, when she’d awakened…
    “What’s wrong?” she asked, turning her head to look at her husband.
    Hud was staring at the ceiling. “You’re going to think I’m crazy.”
    “I’ve never thought you were anything but completely sane in all instances,” she joked.
    “I’m serious,” he said, rolling over on his side to look at her.
    She saw the worry etched in his handsome face. “What?”
    “You aren’t going to want to hear this.”
    “Hud!”
    “Something’s wrong,” he said. “I feel it.”
    She sighed. “Your marshal intuition again?” She felt her eyes widen, her heartbeat kicking up a notch. “About the murder investigation?”
    “It’s your sister.”
    She groaned and, shaking her head, turned to look at the ceiling. “What are you saying?”
    “Have you noticed the way she is with the baby?” he demanded, keeping his voice down even though the bedroom door was closed.
    Dana hadn’t noticed. Usually when her sister brought the baby in, she would hand Ella to her to hold.
    “It’s as if she has never changed a diaper,” Hud was saying.
    “She’s probably nervous because you’re watching her. She’s new at this.”
    He shook his head. “She stares at Ella, I swear, as if she’s never seen her before. Not just that,” he rushed on. “She arrived with hardly any clothes for the baby and when she came back from buying baby food, I asked her what Ella’s favorite was and she said carrots. You should have seen her trying to feed Ella carrots—”
    “Stop. Do you realize how ridiculous you sound?” She’d turned to look at him again. “I repeat, what are you saying? ”
    Hud clamped his mouth shut for a moment, his eyes dark. “Okay, I’ll just say it. I don’t think that baby is hers. In fact, I don’t even think the baby’s name is Ella. That baby quilt has the name Katie stitched on it.”
    “Okay, you are crazy, ” Dana said. “The quilt is probably one she picked up at a secondhand store or a friend lent it to her.”
    “A friend? Has she received even one phone call since she’s been here?” He shook his head. “No, that’s because your sister doesn’t have friends. She never has.”
    “You don’t know that she hasn’t made friends the past six years.”
    “How could she? She moves around all the time. At least that’s her story. And what does she do for money, huh?”
    “She didn’t go to college or learn a trade so of course she has a hard time supporting herself.” Dana knew she was grasping at any explanation, but she couldn’t stop herself. “One look at Stacy and you can see she doesn’t have much. It’s probably the best she can do right now. And you know babies can change their food likes and dislikes in an afternoon. As for diapering…”
    Hud shook his head stubbornly.
    “Is she helping with the kids?”
    “Sure, she seems right at home with a four- and five-year-old.” He sighed. “I still have a hard time trusting Stacy.”
    “I know. She stole five years from us, breaking us up with one of her lies so I understand why you would question everything about her now.” Dana didn’t want to admit that she had felt the same way around her sister. But